Winemaker Notes
Opaque dark ruby describes the color of this Rutherford wine. Blackberry and dark currant dominate the depth of flavor with nuances of blackberry jam on toast, dark chocolate truffle with cocoa dust, cinnamon and clove. The oak is very well integrated, adding just the right amount of spice. The wine has great depth of black fruits with a strong expression of sweet black cherry. There is a complexity in the nose that hints of tobacco and a briary thicket. This full bodied cabernet sauvignon has well integrated tannin which yields a very pleasant, fruitful finish.
Blend: 83.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5.2% Merlot, 6.7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Spry and minty nose of incense, cedar, and a subtle note of red bell pepper. Fleshy and round on the palate, showing notes of black plum, cola, and wet gravel. The structure reflects the current state of the vintage, with a rustic, earth-forward tone throughout. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% each of Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Drinking Window 2021 - 2031
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Vinous
The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard is elegant, nuanced and super-expressive. All the elements are so nicely balanced. Crushed flowers, tobacco, cedar, spice and mint lend lovely aromatic complexity. The 2011 naturally has less depth than most vintages, but it has aged impeccably and shows no green or herbal notes. I would prefer to drink it over the next handful of years. This is beautifully done.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.